Despite any PR answer they probably provided to cover themselves, this is precisely the reason they altered the readability of data like e.g. the number of downvotes of a post.
They want to hide certain correlations around controversial posts from long held accounts who otherwise have a good post and comment karma. If one had access to timestamps too then one could essentially see some of the astroturfing and intentionally directed bot spam clearly. Too much data would allow one to see such corruption in very clear ways. And even analyze the rhetorical anti-communication hostility tactics.
Simultaneously this gives them an excuse to ban all accounts productive in communication (via some slight breaking of some rule) with the explanation that they are too swamped to make discerning decisions.
They want to hide certain correlations around controversial posts from long held accounts who otherwise have a good post and comment karma. If one had access to timestamps too then one could essentially see some of the astroturfing and intentionally directed bot spam clearly. Too much data would allow one to see such corruption in very clear ways. And even analyze the rhetorical anti-communication hostility tactics.
Simultaneously this gives them an excuse to ban all accounts productive in communication (via some slight breaking of some rule) with the explanation that they are too swamped to make discerning decisions.